Australia win toss and bat against England Lions

Australia captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat in the tour match against the England Lions at New Road here on Wednesday.

For the final warm-up match ahead of next Wednesday's Ashes opener in Cardiff, Australia showed faith in Nathan Hauritz despite the off-spinner returning match figures of 1-158 in the drawn match with Sussex at Hove.

The England Lions, the national A side, were looking to impress the selectors ahead of Sunday's first Test squad announcement even though what appeared to be a first-choice team for Cardiff appeared to have been picked for England's warm-up match across the Midlands against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, also starting on Wednesday.

The Lions were led by Ian Bell, whose place in the England batting order has been usurped recently by Ravi Bopara.

The team also included fast bowler Stephen Harmison, dropped during the tour of the Caribbean earlier this year, and promising leg-spinner Adil Rashid, yet to win his first Test cap.

This match was scheduled for four days and, unlike the tour opener where both sides were allowed 12 players, here the teams were back to the regulation 11 each.